Title: Blowing Bubbles
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: VRD challenge - Pink, 5_prompts
Prompt: Bubble gum (picture)
Author's Note: The human version of the Doctor is being referred to as John Smith in this fic, since it's the Doctor's human alias and his clone needed a name.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Journey's End, somewhat. This is an completely alternate take on the ending of Season Four.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor, or his human clone. Please do not sue.

***


"You know, bubble gum is one of the best things that the human race has invented," Jamie told the Doctor, unwrapping a large piece of pink gum and popping it into his mouth. He chewed furiously, trying to get the gum to a certain consistency.

"I think I've created a monster by introducing you to gum," the Time Lord laughed, leaning back in his chair and contemplating his lover. "You've chewed bubble gum before, you know. Just not in the body that you have now."

Jamie nodded, still chewing away at the gum. His voice, when he spoke, sounded somewhat garbled until he stopped trying to chew and talk at the same time, shoving the gum to the side of his cheek. "But this is only the second time I've had it as a human."

"You know, that's one thing about you that I can say is very human," the Doctor told him, trying to keep a straight face even though his dark eyes sparkled with laughter. "You're always so eager to try new things. It's an endearing trait."

"Look who's talking!" Jamie retorted, shifting the piece of gum into his other cheek as he spoke. "You're the one who can't wait to jump head first into any situation -- usually without looking. You have more of a sense of adventure than anyone I know."

"You don't know that many people!" the Doctor said, laughing and shaking his head. "Well, that's not really true, is it?" he amended, looking thoughtful. "You know the same people I do, in a sense. At least, you've met them -- in a sense."

Jamie nodded, carefully starting to blow a bubble with his gum. "I've met them, and I remember them, but it's not as though I really know them, is it?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow. "After all, they met you, not me."

The Doctor considered Jamie's words, a slight frown marring his brow. "That's true," he sighed, his voice trailing off as he let his thoughts focus on their situation. Sometimes it was hard to wrap his brain around the fact that Jamie was, in effect, himself.

Of course, his lover was a separate entity from him -- Jamie was his own man with his own thoughts, who made his own decisions about his life. But he still retained all of the Doctor's memories -- and that could be a bit disconcerting at times.

But this wasn't the time to think about those things, the Time Lord told himself firmly, turning his attention to the man sitting at the table across from him. Jamie was blowing a larger and larger bubble, leaning back in the chair as it grew.

The Doctor almost wanted to reach out and pop the bubble, but he stopped himself before he followed through on the idea. He'd had someone do that to him before, and it had taken three showers to get all of the bubble gum out of his hair. He didn't want to subject Jamie to that!

The bubble deflated much more quickly than it had grown as Jamie sucked the air out of it, then looked over at the Doctor and grinned as he resumed chewing. "Do you remember the time when you got gum in your hair?" he asked, winking at the Time Lord.

"I didn't expect you to remember that!" the Doctor laughed, shaking his head, then proceeded to blow a bubble with his own gum. It didn't reach the size of Jamie's before it began to deflate; he'd never been very good at blowing bubbles.

"It's almost funny that I'm better at making bubbles with gum than you are," Jamie said, watching him. "I never would have thought that I'd be better than you at anything." He sounded almost wistful as he spoke; his tone made the Doctor look up in surprise.

"I'm not better than you are, love," he said softly, wanting to take Jamie into his arms. "I'm just different. That doesn't always mean better -- in fact, a lot of the time, it can mean just the opposite. You're just as important and worthwhile in this world as I am."

"I wish I could believe that," Jamie murmured, his voice barely audible. "But the truth is, I'm a pale imitation of you, Doctor. I can never be what you are -- or who you are. I just hope that being myself will always be good enough for you."

"You know that you'll always be the best thing that's ever happened to me," the Doctor told him, getting up and moving to where Jamie sat, taking his lover's hands and pulling the other man to his feet. "And you will always be more than merely 'good enough' for me."

Jamie wrapped his arms around the Doctor, leaning into the Time Lord's embrace. The Doctor closed his eyes, resting his cheek against Jamie's. Jamie was more than just good enough, he thought with a smile. And in the matter of blowing bubbles, it was just possible that he was better.

***